At the start of each Tuesday Amharic lesson I am always asked the same question “What did you do over the weekend?”

Well let’s see, on Friday evening we set off to meet a friend for a meal on the other side of Addis Ababa. We didn’t anticipate the delay simply reaching the ring road. As we turned into the offending side road a little under half a mile long, our hearts sank. No real chance of a U turn. Two lanes had turned into four with Lorries, busses and taxis desperate to get a car length ahead. Half an hour later we finally reached the ring road and could begin the journey properly.

Saturday Phil drove again to the other side of the city to mentor his group of medical students. I got a lift with some others and went to the bazaar buying a few goodies to bring back to the UK. Phil however called in at a supermarket on his travels and found BUTTER. A minor miracle as we haven’t seen that for a few weeks and it really felt like a treat.

On Saturday afternoon I had a call from a colleague who had heard dripping in my class room. On investigation water was pouring through the ceiling in one place and dripping through in four others. Our efficient campus manager dealt with the source of the problem - the guest apartment upstairs where taps had been left turned on when the water was off at the mains. When it started flowing again the drains could not cope! So the clean-up began once more. Monday will be a gloomy one. We cannot use the lights till the ceiling dries out!

Sunday dawned, caution had been advised because this was Election Day. On our way to our church we passed a very long line of men queuing to cast their votes. Where were all the women? We found out later that both sexes queue separately.

Phil was giving a talk to the adult bible fellowship between the services which was very well received and attended. After this we tried the gym which was closed, so we settled for a coffee in the café (Neither of us were too disappointed). Peggy and Gary arrived as they were booked on the overnight flight from Addis, so we had a meal together at a restaurant then Gary and Phil returned to Bingham to watch Formula One the Monaco Grand Prix.

Peggy was keen to have a manicure and pedicure, and of course I was a willing companion. My manicure cost £2.50. The ‘Real Salon’ where we had it done had seen better days and so had the overalls that the manicurists were wearing but the atmosphere was congenial. We then found a willing taxi driver who was desperate for our custom. Communication was more of a challenge. “Kolfe Atenatera”. “Piazza?” he replied. We fared better by getting in and giving directions one by one. Only one blip. He interpreted Kolfe as Coffee and tried to turn into a popular café on the way.

Now what can I convey in Amharic? Makina means car and tilik makina (literally big car) means lorry… This will take forever!